A tough day out there in this sun I’ll bet Jan, I’ve been doing some jobs inside and I’ll go out shortly to water the greenhouse and the beans now that it’s cooled down a touch…
It was ideal, actually. Walked Holly not long ago, met other dogs. It was perfect. Shame I had to come home, lol.
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Just did some weeding today and potted on my pepper plants into their final 20cm pot, and after tea I will water the beans and the greenhouse plants. Much cooler today though and overcast, so they shouldn’t need quite so much…
Hi
My specialist vegetables arrived late Friday.
Same supplier for years, we used to live near each other.
, she is a lovely, very knowledgeable grower with a few greenhouses in
her garden.
I always get a few surprises from her, varieties I have never heard of, plus some which have lost their labels, normally tomatoes and peppers.
This year I got a pink spinach tree, a hardy annual herb which I had never heard of, it is already looking good.
They are all currently still boxed up in the Conservatory, they will be goin out in the Polytunnel Tuesday.
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Treated myself to some bits today, in home bargains. A slim line water butt, with stand, tap and fittings, for £19.99, and a hose with fittings for £6.99. Hoping to take down tomorrow and try to assemble.
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Sounds an interesting mix Swimmy, let us have a photo sometime as it would be great to see your setup…
Sounds like you are getting organised down there Jan, quite an undertaking though a new allotment, certainly a lot of work ahead what with the shed as well, hope you have some help with it from the other allotment holders?
Thanks Barry. No sign of a new shed though, unless I get cracking with the ground prep. My neighbour friend, who also has a plot there, said her OH would help me (and yes I’d pay him), but I’m sure he has enough to do on theirs. I might do it myself, slowly, when I can decide where to site it.
View from the back. I have been strimming the grass, resited the tarps and sitting with a coffee, wondering where to put the shed.
Areas under tarps in foreground are almost ready. Right h side is for greenhouse. Shed should be where I’m sitting, so there is free space for Holly. But ground needs doing again.
Been on the go since 9am so taking a rest from this for a bit.
Hang on. Photo needs resizing. Again.
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It’s hard work this gardening game. I’m impressed by anyone who manages a full day of it. I’m just in from merely 30 minutes of cherry picking in a hot sun. Sticky from cherries and sweat. There’s so many cherries I’m cherry picking the cherry picking, if you see what I mean. I think today’s kilo will be stoned and frozen for later.
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Not been at this all day but did do some this morning, after I’d been to Wickes. Bought a stand for the blue butt, got the hose from the tap and put some water in so I could use the w/can on the plants. And hefted the small butt onto the stand, which should be four pieces but is only three, but managed to get it on.
Did just over 2 hours this afternoon. I just meant I went out at 9, and haven’t stopped all day. So tired.
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All I did today was to pull some more rhubarb for the freezer, which is having quite a good season, and watered the plot where needed.
The plot is looking quite good now after a rocky start with late frosts and now a lack of rain, so I’m pleased with how some things are doing. The broad beans are looking particularly good and the first flowers have now set beans, so I will pinch out the tips next week and then use them for greens on a couple of lunches, as they are tasty eating… 
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Looking good, Barry.
Just reading on FB a lot of people are not having much success with their seeds. Failing to germinate or are slow.
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A couple more pictures from the plot…
The blackberries are flowering well and looks like being a good crop. The variety is “Oregon Thornless” so it makes harvesting and maintenance painfree…
The broad beans are looking good and setting well. A little blackfly on top but I’ve been nipping the tops out to use as a green veg, very much like spinach, which helps keep the blackfly to a minimum. Any that arrive now I will spray with dilute washing up liquid which often does the trick, same as I do on the runner beans.
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Looking good Barry.
I’ve had a slight set back with my water butts. Both of them! The slim line one, which I’d balanced on the three parts of the stand (4th missing), was found on its side, all water gone. (It is very windy here). And the big blue one, given to me by someone on the site, leaked most of its contents. Just had enough to water my beds. If I see the chap again he can take it back.
I am not confident of anything doing well over there. The fruits, well they can maybe grow next year, along with the rhubarb. At home a I have strawberries, broad beans, peas, and tomatoes. Reckon they will do better.
Sounds like a bit of hard luck there with the water butts Jan, hope you can get something sorted more permanent. It’s always a trial starting a new plot, so much to do and so much to organise, barely leaves time for growing anything! Anyway, best of luck with everything and here’s hoping you can make a bit of progress and get something growing before too long. Next season will be so much easier I’m sure as you’ll have some things established by then hopefully. 
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That’s what I’m hoping for, Barry. Thanks.
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Just a few snaps of progress in the veg plot.
I have just picked the first broad beans and mange tout that we will have for lunch tomorrow with some new spuds (bought in) and maybe a bit of salmon…
The beetroot is doing well and we’ve already had a couple, which we grate raw with a salad…
The parsnips were a struggle to germinate for some reason this year so there are only a few, but better that than none I guess, but the carrots are doing really well under the net (to prevent carrot root fly), and we are already using the thinnings on salads…
The runner beans are climbing nicely now and the blackfly is well under control by spraying with dilute detergent…
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Ive never heard of eating raw Beetroot before , does the taste differ much from cooked ?
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